The 2025-26 NHL season is close to starting again, and one of the hottest offseason debates revolves around the annual salaries of the league’s top stars. In this case, the spotlight is on Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Connor McDavid, the superstar of the Edmonton Oilers.
As a forward who led the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, McDavid remains one of the most significant names in the league. Still, his contract continues to fuel constant speculation, as he is entering the final year of his deal.
Matthews, meanwhile, continues to be one of the faces of the Maple Leafs’ attack during the franchise’s rebuilding phase, as they aim to keep postseason expectations high. When comparing his contract to McDavid’s, one key detail stands out.
Who earns more between McDavid and Matthews?
Matthews earns an annual salary of $13.25 million under his four-year, $53 million deal signed in August 2023. That figure represents a higher AAV than McDavid, who is making $12.5 million per season in the final year of his eight-year contract.
For the 2025-26 season, Matthews’ base salary will be $775,000, with a signing bonus of $14.425 million, bringing his total earnings to roughly $15.2 million, even though his salary cap hit remains $13.25 million.
McDavid’s next contract
While McDavid once signed for a total of $100 million, that contract is now coming to an end, and the forward is looking for an extension that matches his new standards. The Oilers star is a top priority for the front office, which is working toward offering him a record-setting deal. However, the extension has yet to materialize, and time keeps ticking away.